which resort

Hi

Can anyone recommend a suitable resort for a family of 2 adults and 4 kids ages 17, 16, 10 and 2 years.

We want somewhere with a good beach, somewhere to walk out in the evenings and not too far from airport. We dont mind to get the train or bus into Colombo as we would like to see the city as well.

We live in the middle east so nothing will shock us.

Thanks

Becky

which resort

Hi Becky

Well, i guess that the best one to fit all of your criterias would be the Club Hotel Dolphin in Waikkal, great for families, only thing that ';may'; not come up to your wishes could be the beaches, best ones are of course MUCH further south from the Airport, but still reasonable at Waikkal, also maybe ! worth a look is Browns Beach in Negombo ?

Nothing to suit your needs in Colombo city itself.

Regards

Dave

which resort

Thanks Dave

The two hotels look great. I was a bit put off by people saying there was nothing at all in Negombo. I did consider Kalutara but it looks like the further you go down the coast, everything revolves around your resort anyway. Not too bothered about swimming in the sea as long as it looks nice - would rather swim in the pool. Most important is a decent hotel and good food. Kids would probably like to go into Columbo for shopping. Is it easy to get about on local buses and trains.

Never been to Sirlanka before but we%26#39;ve been to Goa and I suppose its similar.

If anyone else has any positive advice would be greatful.

Regards

Becky

Hi Becky

If you want to walk out somewhere in the evenings, Club Hotel Dolphin is not for you .. it is a big and nice hotel in an attractive location but is nowhere near a town or many restaurants. You%26#39;d be better off looking at one of the many hotels on Negombo%26#39;s strip - Browns Beach is one of them, but there are others too, depending on your budget. Jetwing Beach is the most upmarket, Jetwing Seashells is much cheaper but also right on a nice bit of beach. I have never much liked the look of Browns Beach hotel myself, but it is close to a play area on the beach which might entertain your two younger children.

Negombo is a great place .. I didn%26#39;t expect to like it much, but it is lively and entertaining and there are many trips possible from this area. And it%26#39;s only 20 minutes drive from the airport. We stay at Negombo at the beginning and end of our tours in Sri Lanka and it is particularly good for this. Consider breaking up your holiday a bit and stay at another hotel inland for part of it. It will give you the opportunity to see some amazing attractions and limit the daily travelling with the children.

Colombo, by the way, is not the most thrilling city in the world. I would not make a special trip to see it and I think the children would much prefer places like the cultural triangle where they will see monkeys everywhere and can ride on elephants, or the smaller city of Kandy with the wonderful botanical gardens close by.

Sue

Hi again Becky

The reason i mentioned the 2 hotels that i did is that they have a good reputation for familes with kids, no too sure about there being places that kids would want to walk about in the evening times though!

Kalutara ?, well the hotels there are rather isolated on the beach, with nothing really outside to wander around, maybe The Tangerine or Royal Palms would have a little, there a few shops just outside the gates, but again nothing really to keep kids entertained for any length of time, beaches at Kalutara are better than those in Negombo or Waikkal, but again nothing special, still much better further south, but of course much further from airport too.

Colombo shopping?, well there are several good shopping malls ect, but really best only go there for shopping, and to be honest i would avoid public transport into and out of Colombo, much better and safer to hire a mini van and driver for the day to do this, especially with the kids.

Regards

Dave